Astros First Pick in 2008

[sticky]

Houston first pick in the 2008 draft is left handed hitting catcher Jason Castro from Stanford.

[AJ25]

to me, we had that left handed hitting catcher in eric munson. he was already developed, and he hit for power! but we got rid of him..

[KFDM COOP]

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[Ruckdad]

This was a reach in the first round but they addressed need.  I would rather they had gone best arm available or best talent available.  Castro was expected to go around 28th or so, so he moved up quite a bit.

Munson was not the answer at catcher.  There is a reason he isn't playing with anybody else right now either.  He's currently hitting .165 with Mikwaukee's AAA club.

[sticky]

Second choice is Jordan Lyles.  HS kid from South Carolina and RHP

[JoeBuck111]

every time the astros develop a good player, they get rid of them,

[baseballarchitect]

I don't think you should ever try and develop a catcher. I think they are a rare commodity on the offensive side. Look at Piazza, last pick of the draft done as a favor and will end up in the HOF. Take a pitcher or the best hitter available but not a catcher.

[Ruckdad]

But look at the guys that are catching now and getting it done with the bat.

Joe Mauer

Brian Mccann

Russell MArtin

Jason Varitek

Gerald Laird

Ryan Dooumit

All came from the draft and developed in the minors as catchers.

I think the Astros reached a little bit with this pick but I have been watching him play these last couple weeks and I have been impressed.

[Guest Orangeboy]

I don't think you should ever try and develop a catcher. I think they are a rare commodity on the offensive side. Look at Piazza, last pick of the draft done as a favor and will end up in the HOF. Take a pitcher or the best hitter available but not a catcher.

Have to agree here. There just aren't enough catchers that produce offensively to waste a high pick on one.

[Ruckdad]

Well three of the top ten picks in this year's draft were catchers, so - there are other schools of thought out there.